10 THINGS I Wish I Knew As A Beginner Bassist

[@yorkunt]

I am really glad you changed your background to something less bright!

[@thabombaa]

Truly was one of the main thing leading me away from the videos, truly an improvement (I always play in the evening so having a flashbang kn the screen is not very comfy)

[@nickgardner1507]

Loved the Bandsmanship reference, learning to play as a part of a Team is so important.

[@Sidmartin]

Haha! Yeah. I was just talking about some of these points to a friend of mine. A lot of people out a setlist together, play along to it and think they can translate that to a stage… learning the basics is definitely key if you’re a gun for hire. I find that, like you said, learning a good amount of “staple” music, will give you that knowledge. Eventually you’ll recognise patterns, build on them and add your own sauce. Bandsmanship is HUGE!!! a lot of “singers” and “guitarist” need to hear that. Lmaooo

[@armbarre]

The bit about chord tones is legit. I stumbled into them as a kid, but it would have saved me a ton of time to understand how chords are put together.

[@KimSE4]

Just want to give a thumbs up to Mark's sight reading course. Very well put together and been massively helpful for me.

[@nostromoalien2]

Ditto. I'm coming up to level 8 💕

[@ianmackenzie686]

Good to know. I'm seriously considering the course.

[@brandonjohnson80]

Been playing Bass and Guitar since 1984 and the information in this video is a HUGE shortcut for every instrumentalist really. Especially if you’re new to an instrument watch this daily.

[@Rod-d6e]

For me the Best Teacher in YT 👍👍👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@09lowkey]

"Bandsmanship" excellent point, it makes a difference to be able to play with others well. - Big tip for bass players, if you're gigging where your drummer has to bring their whole kit, always help the drummer with their kit once you finish setting up your rig. Trust me they'll appreciate it. I used to keep a drum key in my gig bag for this very reason they'll call you a life saver when you tell them you have one in case they need it. - Beware of guitar players who lack bandsmanship talking about "my amp is louder than yours" (happened to me in an ensemble with live drums, and electronics like synths & samplers and stuff). Safe to say said guitar player didn't understand how PA systems worked (the only reason you're the loudest is because everyone is trying to match the volume of the drumset except you). Great tips, great video.

[@RedMadScouser]

I happen to know a fairly skilled piano player who no one wants to play with. The guy is just such a stratospherical jerk that all locals could give two f's about his piano skills lol

[@charlescowan6121]

@09lowkey I rather enjoyed this video myself! There are certain etiquettes that come with being in a band. Tribal knowledge if you will, nothing you can take a class on. Except maybe at musicians institute in California. The instructors are all gigging musicians and they no doubt share their own experiences of success, failure and folly.

[@60degreelobwedge82]

And definitely work on showmanship as well. The absolute minimum is to learn how to look comfortable and confident while playing your instrument (practice standing up without staring at your hands)

[@SO-ym3zs]

Great advice! My experience as a newbie with a few years of playing under his belt mirrors a lot of what you're saying: focus on the foundations instead of flashy techniques--it's better and more useful to play the basics really well at a moderate tempo than to play badly fast--and focus on learning songs instead of abstract exercises. If your goal is to play music, learn first and foremost from actual music. I've learned hundreds of songs across many genres, including stuff I wouldn't normally listen to just for pleasure. And that's exposed me to ideas and techniques and feels that I might not otherwise learn. Mastering wildly varied songs helps you master technique in a concrete, practical, real-world way.

[@bradsaville7790]

great tips ! i did the same things as you when i started for a lot of years and im only now,at 47 learning to read music and realising how much its helping .

[@FondueBrothers]

Yes, all of the above! Tip 4 playing lightly is one I wished I had learned sooner. Although my gigging days are over, if I ever jam with other musicians, I still find myself digging in too hard and cramping up.

[@andreasalov7618]

I did start the way you describe, working out basslines to my favorite metal songs and slowly getting to know the instrument. At the same time, I grew up playing horn in brass band and orchestras, and pretty early on I got interested in composing, arranging and orchestration. I think that, in turn, helped my bass playing, as I got familiar with theory in general and the role of the bass in many genres. In short, I think that combination of experiences supercharged my bass-learning journey. Great video!

[@jeffgrosse-f4v]

I’m 71 and started playing at 14, at the beginning I used a small turntable with a speaker, and had to learn how to play Yes etc. by putting it on. the record, and picked it up to move back to the start😜 I went through the same things, always learning along the way. I’ve played in Rock, Blues, Country, and original bands.I can play just about anything, but I never learned how to read☹ Love your content, , Bass, and tone🎸, Could you put a video of what you use, and how you use them?

[@williamgeller2385]

Absolutely spot-on advice, some of which I've verified myself throughout my career, naturally, the hard way. Thank you for imparting very useful knowledge on your channel.

[@janlaube1228]

You’re perfectly right, I am now 57 and still revealing a lot of new things. Fortunately, I played tuba in a big brass music band a I learned reading music from the very beginning and it’s true! That helps quite a lot. Good luck! Jan

[@henrycortez2117]

As usual, really good useful information. Great job Mark!!

[@NancyDoyle-zn7kf]

Thanks for the solid advice!Also, I could gaze at that bass all day; such a beauty, it must be amazing to play. Cheers!

[@doctorwhok9p103]

You are my favorite teacher and I learned so much from your Chords class I would add to learn to read music - avoid tabs So many times I play with a group and we have to change key and new music is sent out Play with others no matter your skill level Find similar musicians Practicing to KZbin covers is nothing like a real band setting Great way to network and have fun

[@nostromoalien2]

Nearly 5 years since i started learning to read eith your courses. In 20+ years of playing bass, the last 5 have been the best for sure

[@dario85j]

Great video, it’s all true, especially the last one. I’m a guitarist for 25 years now, this year I’ve got the crazy idea to learn bass for real and you are always my best online teacher. Thank you!

[@Cake_Doge]

Long time subscriber here, I have learned a good lot and I still adore that bass. The colour, the style, the electronics wizardy etc.

[@zimmerframehero1483]

Really good video getting back into playing after a 8 year break and videos like these help massively

[@chris_st]

I played live for the first time after about 2 1/2 years of practice, and WOW, I learned more between Thursday afternoon before the rehearsal and Sunday afternoon after worship than I had earlier. I still learn stuff when playing live... it's fantastic. Don't wait as long as I did :-)

[@thomasfioriglio]

Really great list Mark. I do especially like the last one about being in a band. I teach history in a High School, and when I was in high school back in the 80s, I played in my first punk band. I am still friends with my first bandmates. When I have a student who is learning guitar or bass, I always tell them to find other students who play and form a band. There is no better experience to playing than playing with others. And writing your own songs, no matter how good or bad they may be. As you said, when playing alone at home, you can do all the gymnastics you want, but basic fundamentals and solid bass playing is what it is really all about. Cheers!

[@froorocks100]

Great tips. Can you do a video on the standards you recommend we learn for each genre?

[@nofrets5]

Yes!!

[@MungoMickey]

Great tips. Thank you Mark.

[@samstinkeringaround8961]

I like the darker colors also , makes it easier to focus on you Mark and not the bright background. Keep it like it is very nice.😊

[@imageplayphoto]

I can’t argue with any of that, particularly the last bit!

[@Missile_Command]

6:00 "Theory is labelling" is a useful way to frame it

[@MC-qe5qb]

Super practical lesson!

[@bassbuffricky]

Also important: practise the techniques required for songs on the set list at home, so you are well prepared at band rehearsals. Band rehearsals should focus on getting ready as a band for (a) gig(s).

[@mcinen67]

That is what I'm trying to say to my band members. You do not come to rehearsals to "learn" samething you already have learnt previsly Times. Practise at home the songs and come well preparet to rehearsals.

[@maasaigeordie]

@@mcinen67 Are you seriously saying that you are in a band with people who don't learn and practise what they are supposed to play before they turn up at rehearsal?

[@fckYT-g8f]

​@@mcinen67I've dealt w/that shit so many times; mf'ers are lazy.

[@r.l.rachel740]

Simple, concise messaging…………. Thank-You.

[@xttocx]

This is legitimately fantastic content, bravo sir.

[@Temperius1]

Well done! an enjoyable lesson

[@girmaybass68]

13:00 1. showing up to practice or live gig at the agreed time. 2. Sound check and tune instruments before hand and not when the room is packed 3. Dress code / dress appropriately 4. Face the audience while playing instrument or singing - those come to mind from past observation

[@talkingbasslessons]

Absolutely

[@ajadrew]

Excellent video, I needed it 👍😊

[@WanderingandWondering-qp6yr]

Good solid advices Mark, loved the video.

[@LaurenceMollerup]

Amen to reading better sooner! Knowledge is power.

[@s.d.d.6063]

100% agree on "bandsmanship" and my #1 in that category is: just don't act as an a... hole. Be friendly and helpful to the other guys, show up on time, study at home in order to be prepared when you have a rehersal, speak when you have to, but be quiet when you don't have anything useful to say. They might seem simple and ordinaty things to do, but unfortunately they not always are...

[@SO-ym3zs]

Good advice for any job or social situation, really!

[@johnoneill8842]

Playing lightly is definitely something I wish I learned in the beginning.

[@Redbeard4321]

Lots of good info here! I gravitated to Jamerson & flat wounds starting out because you couldn’t walk into shop without someone Slapping Flea’s Higher Ground. And am guessing we’re about the same age…speaking of shoulder and neck pain! I have that strap in brown and a couple of their 3”cottons. And now I must deep dive your channel hoping you talk about the bass you’re holding…LEDs on the pickups? I must understand!

[@Redbeard4321]

I made it as far back as the Leland Sklar interview & now that’s happening. What is this bass you have?! Little help please.

[@Bone1996]

I cant find much myself, but going by the logo on the headstock, it looks like a Yamaha?

[@unclemick-synths]

#2 is a good one. Life got a lot easier when I stopped chasing tones and made my basses sound the best version of themselves. Putting on unsuitable strings and trying to pull up frequencies that aren't there and suppress the frequencies that give the instrument it's unique character is doomed to fail.

[@Hey-Its-Dingo]

3:04 Kind of a funny story: my first bass was a Dean Hillsboro Jazz bass, and I loved it until I got an Ibanez Talman, but what revived my love for my first bass was actually that I tried to replace the old pots for new ones, and I messed something up and the only knob that works is the pickup selector, everything else is locked at full, and, ironically, it has never sounded better than when I only had 1 option for variation in the natural tone it gave. Lol

[@Hey-Its-Dingo]

Also, knowing how to play in different styles CAN actually help you if you form a band. The reason Flee is an amazing Punk Rock bass player is because he has amazing Jazz and Funk sensibilities, which he applied to RHCP's Rock and Punk style to make that band's unique sound. The more you know, the more you can mix to find something all your own.

[@Milewskige]

10:00 Would like to point out that many bands have combined different styles to create something new. One easy example is country rock, but there are many other examples.

[@1234drums]

Wise tips, ty ❤

[@KelVarnsen-j9k]

Good tips, thanks

[@kirbdini]

I am self taught, 30 years in and still pretty much doing the same thing. Fortunately, KZbin opened up the door and let me see some of my mistakes. I wish I would’ve known they were mistakes when I started because this far in habits are hard to break.

[@neillajkiewicz3767]

Great video!

[@raymontella2251]

Spot on

[@BennHaynes-i2e]

Well done Mark.

[@markbass354]

very good video Mark

[@scottsmith3593]

Listen to this man!

[@davidbalan6571]

1. How to hold and play the instrument without hurting yourself. 2 . The layout of the fretboard. 3. The basic chord 4 . Playing clean 5 . Have fun

[@thomaswalker8790]

Great 👍👍

[@keithmuffty3501]

All awesome points... Thank you.. where did you get your Strap, it looks really comfortable... do you sell them, I would like to buy one... Pls advise

[@talkingbasslessons]

It's a Levy Leathers strap. 4.5 Inch wide. Best strap's I've ever had

[@graemerobertson5160]

I started off the same pretty much as you, but I still struggle reading music at any speed.

[@dentoncrimescene]

The master speaks, i listen.

[@ErixSamson]

All 10 make totak sense!

[@darrenlane6316]

Something that hardly anyone talks about is the playing with the picking hand. If you want to have your mind blown... Try playing with a ukulele pick. You are welcome!!! 😎

[@remco2777]

Your thumbnail suggested that one-finger-per-fret would feature. Glad it didn’t 😂

[@haywoodgampaha9512]

❤ from Sri Lanka

[@MrWhit30]

#10 is the most important. Without that it wont be any fun. I just quit an originals project because of the leader's poor "bandsmanship". He wrote great songs and was a decent player technically. But he only had one gear, musically and personality wise. "Wide open as a case knife" as my grandaddy would say. Every song attempted was always a muddy mess and too loud for me to hear myself and properly learn my parts. No sense of dynamics, and on top of that poor people skills and organizational ability resulting in constant drama. After about 6 rehearsals I determined it was never gonna get any better and split before any attempt to go public.

[@FondueBrothers]

Good decision.

[@davidturkos8502]

I started playing in 86 as a full testosterone teen. I took to the bass after being told, you'd be a great bass player. It's was the nice way of saying "you suck on guitar so play bass". Every experience mark talked about from learning from guitar players to reading tab it's what we did back then. I don't regret a second of it.

[@ajdayton101]

I have trouble remembering songs I've learned down in the past. I've been working with many different bands and I get so focused on the current band that I forget all the songs I learned previously. Is that normal? Bandsmanship is key for sure.

[@johnsix1749]

best thing I did was put Labella Flats on my basses and staying in the first 5 frets, took me 25 years but now 10 years later I wish someone had told me that the first day. Variety is a requirement if you want to stay busy.

[@mr.tuckers2848]

I love playing along with music following bass tabs but it’s not really showing me how to read music. I can count and recognize notes on the sheet but if you take away those numbers I would not know how to read it. If we were still without the internet I would be forced to learn from books or video tape but I think the internet has spoiled us all by learning how to play along and making things easier but I still feel I’m missing something important.

[@jackdanies]

Is this the Levys Padded Leather Strap in 4,5" width?

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@jackdanies Yes it is

[@miccullen]

Reminder that you need to put links in the description if you reference doing so in the video

[@talkingbasslessons]

Thanks for the heads up. All there now.

[@frank-the-tank75]

I'm surprised by the vast amount of guitarists, bassists especially, who don't practice with a metronome. No wonder live music tends to suck locally nowadays.

[@Wildman-wr1sz]

Anyone know what bass he is using?

I followed the same path as you did in the 80s and all you can do is try and fool the ignorant that you can play bass.The good bass players soon find you out.

[@SheepWaveMeByeBye]

Another tip for the future professional musician: Look up divorce rates for musicians. Musicians have to work when other people have time off. It can be difficult to have a home life with spouse and children when your evenings and weekends are full. Touring means you are gone for months. This might not sound important to you when you are 20, but it will be when you hit your thirties.

[@BrianLannoye]

Also, I've learned that rhythm plays a much bigger role on bass than the guitar. A rhythmic bassline sounds much better than a melodic one imo

[@IfunkY1]

SLAP SONGS TO LEARN - SLIDE:SLAVE - HAIR GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION, LETS WORK PRINCE... - THANK YOU

[@ardiris2715]

Master Of Puppets songs ARE standards. (:

[@uslawman1983]

Great tips... but Bandsmanship is huge: Alot of musicians could learn from that one, sir. . . me included.

[@colerugh6855]

The reason why i like your channel better than bass buzz is because you don't create insecurity in us and then shill your course out

[@yugdails]

lmaaooo dude actually tho

[@timbercest]

I thought the course was worth it just starting out as a complete beginner. TalkingBass was the next thing I jumped to for specifics. I think they compliment each other very well and they don't do a dreaded subscription service model.

[@InsaneMonk89]

Honestly though. Cool dude on bass buzz but he tries to do a subtle flex but dude, we’re not buying it 🥱

[@facethefaceandmore44]

Not sure I agree with you. I paid for the BassBuzz course then got the refund because it wasn’t for me (a bit too light on the workload). But the dude answered all my questions under the videos within 24 hrs and there were no questions asked on the refund. Both Mark and Josh work hard, both give away a ton of free advice. Mark briefly shills his course in this video a couple of times, about the same as what Josh does. There’s room for both, and they constitute a 10000% increase in what was available when I tried to learn bass 20 years ago. 2 things: I’d say most of Josh’s best advice videos are the KZbin vs the paid course; and let’s not forget the Studybass guy who absolutely nails plucking and basic technique, all for free.

[@colerugh6855]

Mark offers advice on how to improve with theory and technique whereas josh will remind you constantly that if you can't do "these 5 things" or whatever you're a beginner still, and then offers to teach. That seems predatory. They are both teachers and both understandably advertise, but I would rather be learning theory than obsessively perfectly fretting every note because I was told it would make me "intermediate." My goal is to play music, be creative, and have fun, not be perfect. Live bands aren't always perfect, and its the big picture that matters to the audience.

[@ToddBrittain1963]

May I add another? Learn to sing and play. If you can sing and play bass, your gigging opportunities will double...at least.

[@shelleyinthecity]

Well Paul McCartney can not read music and he turned out to be a pretty good bass player.

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@shelleyinthecity Yup. But he wasn’t trying to play gigs that needed a reader.

[@paolaramirez3946]

Whats that bass?

[@talkingbasslessons]

Enfield Lionheart

[@mdp303]

Play lighter. Great advice but seldom mentioned 👍

[@tlysergicaciddiethylamide5792]

what i wiSh i haD Done iS not liSten to oLd fart anD pLayeD what i feLt Like pLaying which iS what i DiD anD am pLeaSeD about

[@tlysergicaciddiethylamide5792]

kooL man

[@charlescowan6121]

Dude, if you went to talk to your 15 year old self; he would tell you bloody sod on you! The reason you started playing and continued to play was the same reason as most of us. You wanted to play like billy and Stu, Steve and Les! You wouldn't appreciate learning walking bass lines if you hadn't exhausted yourself learning to tap and slap!

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@charlescowan6121 There’s obviously nothing wrong with slapping and tapping. The stuff I mention here would be added to my practice.

[@charlescowan6121]

@talkingbasslessons Well, of course. I just find it amusing to wish that I had done things differently, not to stray too far into the whimsy. Did you know that you wanted to be a professional musician when you were 14 or 15? Or did it all happen by accident? My brother was a professional guitar player, and learning about his experiences was enough to make me study engineering. 😆 🤣

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@charlescowan6121None of us know how things will progress and this video is only a hypothetical. I didn’t know any of this and would have been thankful for some pointers as a self taught beginner.

[@charlescowan6121]

@talkingbasslessons That's fair, even in my professional opinion that's true. You spend 4 plus years at the uni without ever knowing what your working experience will be like. Many of my class mates in college hated being engineers and ended up doing something else all together. BTW I wasn't being snarky, mate! I really would like to know when you decided to be a professional? My brother graduated from GIT in Hollywood California, worked as a musician for about a decade before going on to manage a warehouse. He had wanted to be a Rockstar from the age of 11.

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@charlescowan6121I think the world of professional music can be the polar opposite of what a lot of musicians actually dream of when they get started. It doesn't take long for most people to get sick of it. That said, I tend to enjoy a lot of the extra stuff it brings like travel etc.

[@DuncanMcArthur-l7l]

you can teach all the cords you want its what we do with it you cant teach that

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@DuncanMcArthur-l7l Obviously. You need experience. You need to do as many gigs as possible. Record as much as possible. Write as much music as possible and practice as much as possible. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be taught music. Obviously.

[@DuncanMcArthur-l7l]

@@talkingbasslessons its what you do with what you learn you cant teach that

[@smalltown2223]

You should get your face tattooed if you want to be taken seriously in this business. A scorpion or a meaningless faux tribal doodle.

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@smalltown2223 Absolutely! I have a tattoo of Mark from Talkingbass on my face. I’m actually a chimpanzee called Derek. I’ve been used in multiple films and TV series. I can understand English, Spanish and Icelandic. I also play bass so help Mark out when he needs a day off to catch up with his work in the UAP Task Force. He’s helping provide disclosure of alien presence on Earth. It’s such a tangled web we weave.

[@akerfeldt4068]

Sorry, but I'm not learning Country

[@Rod-d6e]

😂😂😂

[@ajadrew]

I played for years thinking that....but I changed my mind & am glad I did so.

[@eb303b]

Used to think the same as you, and then this happened: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWbEmWiLn5eDfKc 😁

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

Then at some stage you're going to hear "I thought you said you were a bass player!". We don't always get to choose what the crowd requests, you need to at least know the basics or you're going to look like a fool sooner or later. It's just how it goes if you want to call yourself a musician, but maybe you don't. And no, I don't like country either, just got 35 years gigging under my belt.

[@akerfeldt4068]

@eb303b that may well have just altered my opinion 🤣

[@shroommcfanta2020]

No.1 don,t fall for the pathetic bass with the led,s in the pickups ?

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@shroommcfanta2020 ‘